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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A 3-0 record is about all that's perfect
about Ohio State (No. 15 ESPN/USA Today, No. 17 AP) so far.
|  | | Ohio State defensive back Derek Ross (7) breaks up this pass Saturday. He also had a key fourth-quarter interception in the Buckeyes' victory. |
Jonathan Wells ran for two touchdowns -- including the clinching
score after a Miami (Ohio) penalty in the fourth quarter -- as the
Buckeyes held off the RedHawks 27-16 on Saturday.
"I told the players afterward that I couldn't believe we lost
this football game," Miami coach Terry Hoeppner said. "I couldn't
believe it. This was no moral victory."
Through wins over Fresno State, Arizona and the RedHawks, the
Buckeyes have shown flashes of talent and strength but have also
been stalked by mistakes, penalties and dumb plays.
"I could get up here and alibi about how we played and moan and
complain about it. Instead I'd rather credit Miami," Ohio State
coach John Cooper said. "What happens is, you get in a fight with
somebody and you let them live. And you've got a contest on your
hands. That's what happened. They gained confidence as the game
went on and gave us a dogfight."
Derek Combs rushed for 142 yards on 21 carries and Wells added
113 yards on 17 attempts for the Buckeyes.
But Miami (2-1), seeking the Mid-American Conference's fourth
upset of a Big Ten team this season, wouldn't go away.
Mike Bath rushed for 105 yards on 11 carries and completed 21 of
48 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns. He seemed unfazed by
the pressure of playing against the state's dominant team.
"I'll be quite honest: I grew up a Notre Dame fan," Bath said.
Bath always seemed to make a big play when it was most needed.
"I don't know if I've seen a more courageous performance by a
football player than what he did today," Cooper said.
It wasn't as though the RedHawks didn't have a hand in the
defeat. Bath misfired on two passes to Sly Johnson and Johnson
dropped another one -- all in the first half -- that would have been
touchdowns or at the very least long gainers. Defensive back
DeMarrio Jones also dropped a wild pass from Ohio State quarterback
Steve Bellisari. Two plays later, Bellisari hit Chad Cacchio on a
35-yard touchdown pass.
"I really thought we should be up two touchdowns at halftime,"
Hoeppner said. "It's a game like that, that we let get away from
us."
Johnson did spin around Ohio State cornerback Nate Clements at
the left sideline and pulled in Bath's fade pass for a 26-yard
scoring play and a 10-3 second-quarter lead.
In the second half, Andy Brumbergs missed an extra-point and
shanked a short field goal and Bath tossed interceptions on three
of the RedHawks' final four possessions.
Still, the RedHawks trailed just 20-16 as Ohio State's Dan
Stultz lined up for a 20-yard field goal midway through the fourth
quarter. Stultz converted the field goal, but was roughed on the
play and the Buckeyes were given a first down inside the Miami 2.
Two plays later, Wells skirted right end to make it 27-16.
"I'm never disappointed with a win," Wells said, "but we need
to get better and it better happen this week." The Buckeyes play host to Penn State on Saturday.
In the first meeting between the schools since 1911, the score
was tied 10-10 at halftime. A record crowd of 96,721 at enlarged
Ohio Stadium booed the Buckeyes as they left the field.
Stultz's 28-yard field goal early in the third quarter put Ohio
State ahead to stay. After a Miami punt, the Buckeyes covered 58
yards in just five plays -- Wells going the last 19 untouched up the
middle -- for a 20-10 lead.
But Bath's 23-yard lob pass to Ty Buxton on a fade pattern cut
the lead to four points. After Brumbergs missed the extra point, a
short punt gave the RedHawks the ball at the Buckeyes' 42.
Bath rumbled for 40 yards to the Ohio State 2 on a scramble, but
the RedHawks lost 6 yards on their next three plays. Brumbergs came
in, but was wide left on the 21-yard field-goal attempt.
"We made way too many mistakes to win a game against a team
like this," Hoeppner said.
Clements, Derek Ross and David Mitchell intercepted passes in
the fourth quarter to make the lead stand up.
A relieved Cooper pointed out the problems with penalties,
dropped passes, bad throws, poor protection and defensive lapses
and could only shake his head.
"Obviously we have a lot of work that needs to be done," he
said.
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ALSO SEE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Scoreboard
Miami (Ohio) Clubhouse
Ohio State Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 OSU's Steve Bellisari connects with Chad Cacchio for a 35-yard TD.
avi: 1062 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
The Buckeyes' Jonathan Wells outruns the defense and scores.
avi: 923 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Mike Bath airs it out for Sly Johnson, who dives just inside the end zone for a Miami (Ohio) touchdown.
avi: 1062 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Ohio State's Nate Clements does everything possible to make this interception.
avi: 1153 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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